Balzan

For other uses, see Balzan (disambiguation).
Balzan
Ħal Balzan
Casal Balzano
Local council

Balzan Parish Church

Flag
Coat of arms
Motto: Hortibus undique septa
Coordinates: 35°53′53″N 14°27′12″E / 35.89806°N 14.45333°ECoordinates: 35°53′53″N 14°27′12″E / 35.89806°N 14.45333°E
Country  Malta
Region Central Region
District Western District
Established 1419–1420[1]
Borders Attard, Lija, Iklin, Birkirkara
Government
 • Mayor John Zammit Montebello (PN)
Area
 • Total 0.6 km2 (0.2 sq mi)
Elevation 56 m (184 ft)
Population (March 2013)
 • Total 3,979
 • Density 6,600/km2 (17,000/sq mi)
Demonym Balzani (m), Balzanija (f), Balzanin (pl)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code BZN
Dialing code 356
Patron saint Annunciation
St. Valentine
Day of festa 2nd Sunday of July
14 February
Website Official website
Three Villages of Malta
Attard - Balzan - Lija

Balzan (Maltese: Ħal Balzan) is small town in the Central Region of Malta, one of the so-called three villages, together with Attard and Lija. The village originally consisted of a group of small dwellings and farms but eventually grew, becoming a parish in the 17th century. As of March 2013 the town has 3,979 inhabitants.[2]

Etymology

In Malta, many village names are identical to certain family names, as in Attard and Lija. It is believed by some, therefore, that the village inherited its name from a Sicilian family whose family name was Balzan (or Balzano). Other historians claim that 'balzan' refers to a Sicilian tax collector that could have come to Malta to collect taxes for his Sicilian feudal master. This tax collector could have resided in Balzan thus giving the village its present name.

Culture

The parish church, built in the mid-17th century, is dedicated to the Annunciation of Our Lady. The church is built in the form of a Latin cross, has one belfry and an elegant dome that can be seen from all around the village. The church is built on a Tuscan style from the outside and Doric on the inside. The statue used in the village feast celebrated on the 2nd week of July, is carved in wood by Salvatore Dimech (is-sarc) and shows our lady and Gabriel the Archangel. The parish also celebrates the feast of St. Valentine, which gave the name to the village radio station, Radio Valentine, which closed down officially in 2006.

As with Attard and Lija, Balzan is a sought after location and popular with the middle and upper middle classes. Its residents' political affiliation is predominantly that of the Nationalist Party (PN), a centre-right political party. Lately its population has increased due to large-scale development taking place, largely in the form of apartment blocks replacing villas and their gardens. However, this is mainly occurring on the outskirts of the village, and not the historic centre. The majority of Balzan is an Urban Conservation Area.

Balzan Community Service

Band Clubs

Interesting Places at Ħal Balzan

References

  1. ↑ "History of Balzan". Balzan Local Council. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  2. ↑ "Estimated Population by Locality 31st March, 2013" (PDF). Malta Government Gazette 19,094. Retrieved 11 June 2014.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Balzan.